Flavius Savu Arrested in Switzerland for Extortion at Bozzola Sanctuary: Links to Garlasco Murder Case Emerge
Flavius Savu, a 41-year-old Romanian national and long-time fugitive, was arrested in Zurich, Switzerland, on September 9, 2025, following an international arrest warrant issued by Italian authorities. Savu faces a definitive five-year prison sentence for aggravated extortion targeting the former rector of the Bozzola Sanctuary near Garlasco, Italy—a case involving “hot” blackmail with sexual undertones. His capture, executed through cooperation between Italian Carabinieri, Swiss police, and Interpol, has reignited interest in the 2007 murder of Chiara Poggi in Garlasco, as Savu has claimed connections between the sanctuary scandal and the unsolved killing.
The Arrest: End of a Seven-Year Manhunt
Savu was detained in the Zurich area after evading capture since his 2018 conviction. He and his accomplice, Florin Tanasie, were sentenced in absentia for extorting money from the sanctuary’s former rector, Don Gregorio Vitali, and vice-rector Don Pietro Rossoni. The scheme involved secretly filming the priests in compromising sexual situations during 2014 encounters and threatening to release the videos unless payments were made. Savu received five years and six months, while Tanasie got one year and eight months; both fled Italy before the verdict.
Italian prosecutors in Pavia, who acquired the Bozzola case files earlier in 2025, coordinated the operation. Savu’s lawyer, Roberto Grittini, confirmed the arrest and noted his client is willing to cooperate with investigations, potentially providing new insights into the Garlasco murder. Extradition proceedings are expected to take about 1.5 months, after which Savu will be transferred to Italy to serve his sentence and face possible questioning.
The Bozzola Sanctuary, a Marian shrine in Garlasco, became infamous in 2014 for the scandal, which involved allegations of red-light parties, exorcisms, and other illicit activities. Savu and Tanasie, residents of Garlasco at the time, were accused of orchestrating the blackmail after luring the priests into the encounters.
Background: The Bozzola Scandal and Ties to the Garlasco Murder
The extortion case dates back to 2014, when Savu and Tanasie allegedly recorded explicit videos of the priests and demanded money to keep them private. The scandal rocked the local community, leading to investigations into broader misconduct at the sanctuary, including rumored orgies, satanic rituals, and involvement of minors—claims detailed in a 2025 memorial from Savu’s nephew, Cleo Koludra Stefanescu, who is imprisoned for murder. Stefanescu’s document alleges a “major pedophilia ring and kind of prostitution” at the site, with boys paid 2,000-3,000 euros for sexual acts, and a hidden key under a carpet for secret entry.
Savu’s arrest revives speculation linking the Bozzola affair to the 2007 murder of Chiara Poggi, a 26-year-old woman killed in her Garlasco home. Alberto Stasi, her then-boyfriend, was convicted in 2015 but released in 2020 after a retrial; a new investigation in 2025 targets Andrea Sempio, a friend of Poggi’s brother, based on DNA evidence. Savu, in recent phone interviews from hiding, claimed Poggi discovered the sanctuary’s secrets and was killed to silence her, though prosecutors have dismissed this as “suggestive” without direct evidence. Sempio’s lawyer, Massimo Lovati, has pushed the theory, citing Savu’s statements.
No concrete links have been proven, but the Pavia Prosecutor’s Office may interrogate Savu upon his return, given the file acquisition in May 2025.
Official Responses: Justice Served, But Questions Linger
Pavia Prosecutor Fabio Napoleone welcomed the arrest, stating it “closes a chapter on the Bozzola extortion but opens doors for further clarity on related matters.” The Carabinieri’s Nucleo Investigativo di Milano, handling the Poggi reinvestigation, confirmed they located Savu through international cooperation. Don Vitali, now retired, declined comment but previously described the blackmail as a “nightmare” that damaged the sanctuary’s reputation.
Savu’s lawyer, Grittini, told reporters his client maintains innocence on some aspects and is eager to “clarify the Bozzola events and any tangential connections.” Tanasie remains at large.
Public Reactions: Shock, Speculation, and Calls for Transparency
The arrest has dominated Italian media and social platforms, with #SavuArrestato and #GarlascoMisteri trending on X. Users expressed relief over the fugitive’s capture but renewed intrigue over Poggi’s case, with posts like “Finally, Savu caught—now let’s hear what he knows about Chiara!” amassing thousands of shares. Local Garlasco residents, via forums like Reddit’s r/Italia, voiced frustration over the sanctuary’s lingering stigma, calling for a full probe into alleged abuses.
Advocacy groups for abuse victims, like Telefono Azzurro, urged authorities to investigate the pedophilia claims thoroughly, while skeptics dismissed Savu’s statements as “self-serving.” The story has drawn international attention, with English-language outlets like L’Unione Sarda covering the potential Poggi links.
Impact on the Community: Legacy of Scandal and Justice
For Garlasco’s 10,000 residents, the Bozzola scandal—once a source of shame—resurfaces painful memories, potentially affecting tourism to the shrine and local trust in institutions. Economically, the area, known for agriculture, faces no direct hit, but prolonged media scrutiny could deter visitors. The Poggi case’s revival adds emotional strain, as families seek closure 18 years later.
Broader implications include calls for stricter oversight of religious sites and faster extraditions for fugitives. In Italy, where extortion cases rose 5% in 2024 per ISTAT, this serves as a reminder of cross-border crime’s reach.
Conclusion: A Fugitive’s Fall and Unresolved Mysteries
Flavius Savu’s arrest on September 9, 2025, in Switzerland ends a seven-year manhunt for the extortion at Bozzola Sanctuary, where he and Tanasie blackmailed priests with sexual videos. As he faces extradition and a five-year sentence, his claims linking the scandal to Chiara Poggi’s murder could provide new leads in the infamous Garlasco case.
With investigations ongoing, Savu’s cooperation may unlock truths long buried. For Garlasco, it’s a step toward justice, but the shadows of scandal persist—reminding us that some secrets, once exposed, demand full reckoning.